Plot

Based on the award winning play by Julian Mitchell, the film explores the effect of Public School life in the 1930's on Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett) as his homosexuality and unwillingness to "play the game" turns him eastwards towards communist Russia.

Comments

It is interesting how this film examines the life of Guy Burgess, a real-life Englishman who in the 1940s worked for the Russians against his own country. The movie has nothing to do with spies or international intrigued, though. The story revolves around Burgess' early life, specifically his teen years. From what I've read, I gather this is not a faithful recreation of Burgess' life (the movie is based on a play written by Julian Mitchell), but a rather fictitious depiction of the man's formative years. But if you keep in mind what Burgess became famous for, it is interesting to see how the movie argues that Burgess' youth is crucial to understand why he chose to become a spy for the Russians. In that regard, this is an intriguing character study. Rupert Everett is superb as Burgess, and Colin Firth provides fine support in the role of Burgess' best friend. It would make a wonderful double feature with John Schlesinger's The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), an excellent factual drama about two American friends convicted of spying for the Russians.